Envie- part 74

74

Envie came to the car, handing Gaston the Gabriel and then hugging Gérard tightly.
 
“Should I get the cops out here?” he asked, holding his phone.
 
“There’s no need; she’s gone.” Envie said, “I’ll tell you all about it later.”
 
He gave her a final squeeze. “Now go to Lukas, he was worried about you.”
 
Gérard got behind the wheel and shotgun next to him, this time, was Gabriel. Lukas and Envie had the back seat to themselves, as Gaston sat on Gabriel’s lap.
 
Envie cradled Lukas’ head in her lap, his big body folded into a near fetal position.
 
“How is Gaston?” she asked Gabriel.
 
“Broken wing, but I’ll take care of him. He was very brave today.” Gabriel said.
 
Lukas slept soundly in the arms of his love as she stroked her healing touch over his face and eyes. Her own eyes still burned but the potion hadn’t gotten to her like it had him. She didn’t know if he had been exposed several times.
 
“He had a little water.” said Gérard. He handed the bottle back to Envie who drank some greedily. It felt good on her scorched throat.
 
She laid the cool bottle to Lukas’ cheek. “Do you want to drink?” she asked. His eyes cracked open. “Envie, I can’t see you.” he said. His eyes were red and caked with crusty goo. She tried not to cry.
 
“It may take time to feel better, here, open your mouth a little.” He did and she poured a small amount of water into his open lips. He swallowed very slowly like he had taken in a whole gulp.
 
“More?” she asked.
 
He nodded his head and she repeated.
 
“Merci, I never thought I’d get water again.” he said in a gravelly tone.
 
“Shh, give your throat time to rest.” she said hoarsely.
 
“Mmhmm” he said, snuggling into her warm lap. Gérard had dressed him in the extra rain poncho they had brought to keep him warmer.
 
Envie drank more water and sighed loudly. “Are we out of the storm yet?”
 
“The worst has passed over this Parish and the rain is dying down.” said Gabriel perceptively. Gerard found a station talking about the storm on the radio.
 
The ride home seemed long and Envie fell asleep. When they parked behind her shop next to Lukas’ car, she woke to the stop. “Are we there yet?” she joked feebly.
 
“Yes, let us get you two in.” Gérard said. He got out and Gabriel followed. Gaston hopped down to the pavement stretching his mended wing.
 
They helped Lukas in first to the bed and then came back to help Envie, but she was ambulating herself to the alley doorway of the apartment. Gaston flew in, once his mistress was safely inside. He landed on the floor and nudged Gato, who was being very nosy about what was going on.
Gérard lit all the candles he could find, bringing light to the small bedroom. The power was still out.
 
“Can you two wait in the apartment; I want to get him out of the dirty, wet clothes.” Envie asked. She also wanted to wash his filthy face, erasing the horrible powders that had been put on his skin.
 
The obliged and walked out, stripping off their rain gear; Gérard closed the bedroom door and went to make coffee. He could think of nothing better to drink at a time like this. He lit more candles and leaned under the kitchen sink to look for more surplus. When he found more, Gabriel took the job of lighting them. Gérard used to old time coffee pot on the gas flames to boil water for making the coffee.
 
“Do you think they will be okay…after the poison?” he asked Gabriel.
 
“Envie will be fine, and in turn, she will make him fine in time.” he answered.
 
“You two are very special; you have such talents.” Gérard said with awe.
 
“We are a small race left of long-lived clairvoyant healers. I just didn’t think Envie would meet someone she would be able to open up to.”
 
“It took her a while, but with Lukas, not so long. They have a connection. From the start, there was a connection; that will hold them together.” Gérard said.
 
“I’m glad you feel strongly about that. I think the match is a good one also.” Gabriel said.
 
The coffee was done and they were sitting at the table drinking when the bedroom door opened. Envie had changed into silky pajamas and Lukas was tucked under the covers sleeping.
 
“I smelled coffee.” She said brightly.
 
Gérard got up to make her a cup and she accepted it gratefully.
 
Gaston was on her sewing chair and Gato was curled up on it with him.
 
“Look at those two…” she said thoughtfully.
“I was so worried about his wing.”
 
“He’s as good as new, like Gato.” her father said and smiled at his wonderful daughter.
 
“Will you run off again now?” she asked him.
 
“I am changed. I will go on trips, yes, but never without telling you and keeping in touch.”
 
She smiled at this. “Good. Now I can’t be angry at you.”
 
“You don’t want her angry at you.” Gérard warned.
 
“No, I don’t. Envie tell Gérard what happened at the plantation.” her father said.
 
“I’ll tell you when Lukas wakes up for coffee, okay?”
Gérard smiled and agreed.
 
But Lukas didn’t wake up for coffee….